A ferrugem, causada pelo fungo Puccinia psidii, é atualmente a mais importante doença do eucalipto. Esta doença está amplamente disseminada pelo Brasil e causa sérios danos em viveiros e plantações. A identificação de germoplasma resistente aliado ao conhecimento da base genética da resistência são os requerimentos primordiais para o sucesso de programas de melhoramento visando à produção de cultivares resistentes. Estudos anteriores sobre a herança da resistência em condições controladas sugerem tanto uma herança monogênica como a participação de pelo menos 2 genes conferindo resistência à doença. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a resistência a P. psidii, em condições de campo em quatorze progênies obtidas a partir de cruzamentos e auto-cruzamentos controlados entre quatro clones híbridos de Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden x Eucalyptus urophylla ST Blake,que contrastam para a resistência ao fungo. Os resultados indicam que a resistência pode ser explicada por um loco com efeito principal e pelo menos três alelos diferentes, com interações entre os alelos, resultando no fenótipo de resistência ou suscetibilidade. Entretanto, locos com menor efeito devem influenciar a resistência, uma vez que foram observadas variações nas classes de severidade da escala utilizada. Nenhuma diferença na segregação para a resistência foi observada entre cruzamentos recíprocos, sugerindo que não existe influência citoplasmática no controle deste caráter.

Rust caused by the fungus Puccinia psidii is currently the most important disease of eucalyptus. It is widely disseminated in Brazil, and causes serious damage in nurseries and plantation areas. The identification of resistant germplasm along with knowledge of the genetic basis of resistance heredity are the first requirements for the success of breeding programs aiming to develop resistant varieties. Earlier studies carried out under controlled conditions suggested a monogenic control as well as the participation of at least two genes promoting resistance to rust. The goal of this study was to evaluate the resistance to P. psidii under field conditions in fourteen progenies from controlled crosses and self-crosses among four hybrid clones of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden x Eucalyptus urophylla ST Blake that contrast for resistance to the fungus. Results indicated that resistance could be explained by one locus with main effects and at least three different alleles. However, loci with minor effects may influence the resistance, since variation on severity classes was observed. Differences in segregation of resistance between reciprocal crosses were not observed, indicating absence of cytoplasmic effects.

The Citrus ESTs Sequencing Project (CitEST) conducted at Centro APTA Citros Sylvio Moreira/IAC has identified and catalogued ESTs representing a set of citrus genes expressed under relevant stress responses, including diseases such as citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC), caused by Xylella fastidiosa. All sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osb.) varieties are susceptible to X. fastidiosa. On the other hand, mandarins (C. reticulata Blanco) are considered tolerant or resistant to the disease, although the bacterium can be sporadically detected within the trees, but no disease symptoms or economic losses are observed. To study their genetic responses to the presence of X. fastidiosa, we have compared EST libraries of leaf tissue of sweet orange Pêra IAC (highly susceptible cultivar to X. fastidiosa) and mandarin ‘Ponkan’ (tolerant) artificially infected with the bacterium. Using an in silico differential display, 172 genes were found to be significantly differentially expressed in such conditions. Sweet orange presented an increase in expression of photosynthesis related genes that could reveal a strategy to counterbalance a possible lower photosynthetic activity resulting from early effects of the bacterial colonization in affected plants. On the other hand, mandarin showed an active multi-component defense response against the bacterium similar to the non-host resistance pattern.